MAYBOLE NOTES - APRIL 10, 2007

LIKE other primary school pupils across Ayrshire, pupils at St Cuthbert"s school in Maybole last week released their baby salmon, which they had been caring for since February.

One of the pupils told us: `Mr Minting from the Ayrshire River Trust came to St Cuthbert's Primary to talk to us about salmon and other kinds of fish that live in the rivers around us.

`Before he left, he gave us about 200 salmon eggs to look after. We had to monitor the temperature of the tank, record the number of fish that hatched and the number of fish that died.

'We looked after them for six weeks and then we released them back into the River Girvan.

`We hope to go back nearer the summer to see if we can find any of the salmon. It was great fun and we enjoyed the experience of having them in the class and helping to restore salmon to local waters.` A dozen schools and Dolphin House Education Centre at Culzean have been involved in the Salmon in the Classroom project this year, run by Ayrshire Rivers Trust.

The project involves an afternoon lesson to primary school classes on local rivers, including threats to wildlife such as pollution, habitat loss and overfishing. The salmon life cycle is then covered in detail including breeding behaviour and migration.

After advice on how to look after salmon eggs, the class is provided with an aquarium containing around 200 salmon eggs.

The aquaria are fitted with thermostatic coolers to cope with high classroom temperatures and keep the water at the same temperature as the river. The coolers ensure a high survival rate and allow the children to see the development of the fish for longer before they are released.

Pupils keep a daily record of the progress of the salmon and create posters on the salmon life cycle. Eggs have been supplied by local hatcheries approved by district salmon fishery boards using only native salmon.

Children learn to identify different fish species and how to assess water quality by sampling river invertebrates.

The project has significantly expanded since 2005, when four schools took part followed by 10 in 2006.

In 2007 the following primary schools have taken part; Barr, Dailly, St Cuthbert"s and Cairn (Maybole), Dolphin House (Culzean), Minishant, Heathfield, Dundonald, Tarbolton, Catrine, Patna, Dalmellington and Muirkirk.

Ayrshire Rivers Trust biologist Peter Minting has been developing the project and applying for funds from different sources.

A large portion of funding for SITC has been provided by the Big Lottery Fund"s Fairshare Trust, which is funding five schools in the Maybole area until 2008. Scottish Natural Heritage, Spirit Aerosystems, East Ayrshire Council, South Ayrshire Council, the Hadyard Hill Windfarm Community Fund and Minerals Trust are now also helping to fund the project.

Peter Minting has again been running the project in 2007, with the help of senior biologist Brian Shaw. For information on how to participate in the project contact Peter on 01292 525142.

Ayrshire Rivers Trust is a local charity working to improve the quality of Ayrshire"s rivers for fish and other wildlife.

For comments from individual teachers, please use contact details below: St Cuthberts: Elizabeth Miller and Sharon McCutcheon 01655 882349.

Cairn: Fiona MacAvoy, Quentin Black 01655 883292.

Dailly: Eileen Haddow, Maureen McLeod 01465 811258.

Culzea: Henry Anderson,Kenny Dunlop 01655 760600.

Minishant: Davina Hose, Mrs Park 01292 441803.

Patna: Marion McClean, Miss Hunter 01292 531271.

Barr: Nancy Doyle, Mrs Young 01465 861244.

Heathfield: Mrs Shearing, Kathleen Reid 01292 264802.

Catrine: Campbell McClinton, Mrs Abram 01290 551436.

Dundonald: Jane Houston 01563 850396.

Tarbolton: Karen Butler 01292 541278.

Dalmellington: Jack Paterson, Sandra Jones 01292 550364.

|f=Helvetica s=14Dog walko|

A SPONSORED dog walk was held on Sunday, April 1 at Culzean Country Park in aid of Save the Children"s Maybole branch. Over £1,000 was raised. The committee would like to thank all those who supported the event.

|f=Helvetica s=14Badge mysteryo|

MAYBE some of our readers can help to trace the history of this badge? It was given me by David Rarity of Patna.

Mr Rarity is a collector of memorabilia for his own area but had been given this badge by an antique dealer in Ayr.

The inscription on the back says: "Maybole CC, football, badge ties 1894 won by JD Miller".

If anyone knows anything that can help solve this mystery please call me on 01655 882 644 or the newsroom on 01292 267 631.

|f=Helvetica s=14Golf nighto|

MAYBOLE Golf Club"s ladies section is holding its opening night on Friday, April 13 at 5.30pm.

This is a fun competition and only one club and a putter are allowed.

The gents captain will start the new season by teeing off at the first. All welcome.

|f=Helvetica s=14Crosne Streeto|

KIND-hearted residents of Crosne Street sheltered housing complex in Maybole raised £237 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care fund recently.

Last week, Nell Samson presented the funds to Isabell Montgomerie who said it was a wonderful amount and the fund was very grateful to the residents for thinking about them.

She said: `You really are special folks and I keep talking abot you everywhere I go.` Residents' group chairwoman Nell wrote this about Pat Docherty: Our Pat Pat, Pat, what are you at What are you up to now She's planning a party Said old Mrs Harty I saw the glint in her eye.

She visits the baker, the butcher, the store The fruit shop, the dairy, and lots, and lots more With a smile and a nod She gets it all fre But that was only for Marie Curie She's had Xmas and New Year And Burns and more She's had breakfasts and dinners And lunches galore So now it's time for the palace to see Our Pat deserves the MBE.

|f=Helvetica s=14Palm Sundayo|

AS it was Palm Sunday, parishioners at Our Lady and St Cuthbert"s Church in Maybole started there service a little differently.

Everyone gathered outside the church for the traditional blessing of palms.

The Gospel of the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem was read, followed by a procession into the church with parishioners holding blessed palms and singing `Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising`.

Immediately afterwards, the theme changed radically with the reading of the Passion from St Luke"s gospel.

Fr Stepen McGrattan is pictured blessing palms and leading procession.

Parishioners of Our Lady and St Cuthbert"s Church in Maybole prepared for the unpcoming elections by finding out about the Bills and proposals of the Scottish Executive and Westminster Parliament.

Fr Stephen McGrattan introduced them to John Deighan, parliamentary officer of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, who delivered a very interesting and detailed account of what he described as `the currents of secularism in modern culture which support and lead to many negative attitudes within our society to the dignity of human life`.

Afterwards he answered the many questions raised and Fr McGrattan thanked him for such an enlightening talk and a welcome cup of tea was enjoyed by all.